Another murder arrest made in connection with Oct. 1 shootings

Published 1:06 am Friday, November 17, 2017

 

NATCHEZ — Law enforcement officials Thursday arrested another suspect from an Oct. 1 Natchez shooting spree, and said more arrests may be on the horizon.

Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong said an Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputy apprehended Jermetrice Thomas, 20, 348 State Park Road, Apt. A, wanted for murder and four counts aggravated assault in connection with the shootings that led to the death of Richard Frazier.

Email newsletter signup

Frazier was killed, investigators say, after a truck load of several young men chased him through several areas of Natchez, shooting dozens of rounds from a high-powered rifle. No one else was hurt in the shooting.

Though police had initially arrested all suspects with warrants in connection to the shooting spree, Armstrong said developments in the investigation over time shed light upon others who may have been involved.

“This has been an ongoing investigation, and there could possibly be a couple more arrests,” Armstrong said. “We’ve developed more information and insight as to the perpetrators that was involved. There’s a strong possibility that there may be additional arrests.”

Armstrong said the department had received information that Thomas had been working offshore, but an ACSO deputy spotted Thomas in Adams County Thursday morning.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said the deputy was actually off duty at the time he spotted Thomas.

“Sgt. Chris Logan went up to (Thomas), spoke to him, let him know he had a warrant on him … and actually brought him in to NPD off duty,” Patten said.

“This is why we let our officers bring their vehicles home with them. Even though we’re off, officers are never really off.”

Patten said Logan was aware NPD had a warrant out for Thomas’ arrest and acted accordingly.

Armstrong said no other active warrants remained as of Friday night, but reiterated that more arrests are possible. He specifically mentioned that one person of interest is currently incarcerated in a Texas jail on unrelated charges.

He divulged no further detail other than that the man had yet to be charged with any crime in connection to the Natchez shootings.

Thursday’s arrest marked the eighth suspect charged with murder and brought to 12 the total count of known arrests in relation to the Oct. 1 shooting spree.